Has anyone here actually been to Iraq?

Question

What's it like? Does the media portray it accurately?

Answer 1

I did but in 1988
b4 Saddam invaded my country

Answer 2

I'm currently in Iraq on my second tour and I can tell you from personal experience, the media does not portray the entire situation accurately. They only report about the deaths of Americans and Iraqi civilians, and while accurate, is only one part of what is going on here. From what I've seen, most Iraqis don't mind us being here and look at us as liberators and protectors. They realize that we are doing the best we can and they appreciate it. The news media doesn't ever report about the schools being opened, the roads and electric system being upgraded and repaired, or the fact that people can live and speak about their leaders without worrying about being tortured and killed. Sure there is sectarian violence, but it was happening before we got here. If people remember, there is a bloody civil war in our road to becoming the United States we are today. Its not easy, but with persistence and patience, the Iraqis will be able to support and defend themselves. Nobody hears about the city of Husaybah or Rawah or Karabilah. People are walking down the streets unafraid, going to work and school like normal people. The Iraqi police and army are patrolling regularly and have control over those areas. The reason no one hears about this is because the media gets better ratings out of showing the death and destruction, and they use it to get the American people to support pulling out. While there still is a lot of work to be done, especially in Baghdad, it will eventually work its way out. War is ugly and people die, both military and civilian, and people need to realize this fact and get over it. When that happens maybe we can finish what we came here to do and come home sooner. Besides, if its such an unjust cause, why has there been no shortage of people, both officer and enlisted signing up to fight it, knowing where they'll end up.

Answer 3

I was there in 04' and the frustrations I had were not visible until the last year or so. There are still other issues out there that the public is still not aware of. Example...what do you think happens to an insurgent that is captured by Coalition forces? After they are captured, they are screened for intelligence, this may be anything from one day to months. The capturing unit is responsible for writing an in depth incident report which includes sketches, statements, photos of evidence (if they even get caught with any at the time of capture)...etc. The whole process is handled just like a criminal case. If the individual does not end up getting released eventually, he will be handed over to Iraqi authorities. It may take a year or so before his case is reviewed in an Iraqi court of law. By this time the capturing unit has rotated and many members may have departed service by then. The US military will make an attempt to contact the military members involved to testify via satellite. I have seen too many times where I had collected solid intelligence on known terrorists only to see them free within a few weeks because he was smart enough to not get caught with anything incriminating. Then they go back to their villages and neighborhoods and boast how they got off and educate others on how to avoid prosecution. So unless you kill them on the spot...our young men and women will be targeted again at a later time.

Answer 4

Yes, I've been to Iraq, and I haven't died yet. The media only tells you the stories that will make money, and in America, that's the bad stuff. Have you ever noticed that CNN will run the same negative story for days at a time? That's because that's the only negative thing that happened at the time, and the rest is good.

Answer 5

I have not but my brother served over there in the first calvery and he told me all about it, he was a driver of the Bradly linebacker( a type of tank for troop transport and sometimes used for Air defence as some are equepped with stinger missle launchers wich are used for blowing the crap out of air tagets).He said there was lots of blood, lots of his freinds are missing arms and legs from IEDs ( improvised explosive divice)which are found all over the roads. If you want to see what is really happening in iraq go to rotten.com there are a lot of photos there that you would problably not like to see. Some of what our medai says is true but do not believe all of what you hear. The place is a #$%% hole in there earth. After we got there it was a #%^& hole still but after operation shock and awe ( the carpet bombing that happend by our air force just before we sent in tanks and ground troops) it was really bad. People there value some odd things and our solders are scared enough to fire on civilains if they feel theat they are a threat.Its a bad place, and our medai will never tell us the whole story.

Answer 6

I returned from Iraq in May 06. I was just north of Baghdad and in the Al Anbar province. Al Anbar province near the Jordan and Syrian borders looks like a desert. Taji area has trees and stuff but still very barren looking in comparison to the Southern US. Not much green in Irag but plenty of brown.

Answer 7

Yes, and Afghanistan. It depends on which media out let you are referring to. For the most part no. All sides are biased to their opinion. They all play to their particular target market so that they get the highest ratings possible. This equals $$$$$ for them. NO one is telling the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

Controversy sells.

Look at the posted comments on this site which have the most responses?

Answer 8

I saw one army guy talk on the news last night. They were over in iraq and she asked him what he thought. And he basically just said hed wish the dems and republicans would shut up and stop gambling with his life. And actually finish the war. Or get the hell out of there.

Answer 9

Yep I been there, it is hell more worse than you can imagine. Worser than the 'nam conflict. The media bullshits, the situation is more worser than the media shows it. They don't show you the whole picture, they give you a piece of it. Never trust the media.

Answer 10

I didn't but all my friends are still there ( i hope they are alive ) and no what American media says is not even close to truth!!! Every 15 minutes there is an attack on American base and they die in numbers... All that USA soldier do, is kill and arrest citizens and then showing them on TV. so you guys believe their lies and so they cover their big failure !!! The only media that is showing truth is " AlJazera " who where victims of USA bombing in Iraq !!!
THEY DON'T WANT YOU TO SEE THE TRUTH !!!